Academy Awards voters have received much criticism in the past for lack of diversity among nominees. They apparently got the memo in 2018.

Among the Oscar nominees this year are Pakistani American Kumail Nanjiani, black singer and actress Mary J. Blige, and directors Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro and Greta Gerwig, all of which defy the white male standard we've seen in past nominations. "Mudbound" cinematographer Rachel Morrison was the first woman nominated in the category.

The progress — dubbed by the Los Angeles Times as #ItsAboutTime — met resistance from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which said Hollywood continues to discriminate against Latinos. The group promised two protests before the Oscars.

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